EP2353420A1 - Sports footwear having a custom fitting device - Google Patents
Sports footwear having a custom fitting device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2353420A1 EP2353420A1 EP11152276A EP11152276A EP2353420A1 EP 2353420 A1 EP2353420 A1 EP 2353420A1 EP 11152276 A EP11152276 A EP 11152276A EP 11152276 A EP11152276 A EP 11152276A EP 2353420 A1 EP2353420 A1 EP 2353420A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- bladder
- bladders
- sports footwear
- footwear according
- support element
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 210000002683 foot Anatomy 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 210000004744 fore-foot Anatomy 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000013270 controlled release Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229920005830 Polyurethane Foam Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920002323 Silicone foam Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011496 polyurethane foam Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000013514 silicone foam Substances 0.000 description 2
- 210000003484 anatomy Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000002860 competitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004069 differentiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006355 external stress Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035882 stress Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
- A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
- A43B5/0405—Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots
- A43B5/0407—Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots inflatable
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
- A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
- A43B5/0496—Ski or like boots boots for touring or hiking skis
Definitions
- the present invention refers to a sports footwear, such as, for example, a ski or snowboard boot, an ice or roller skate, a mountaineering shoe or a motorcycle boot, having a custom fitting device comprising a plurality of expandable bladders arranged within the footwear.
- the expansion of the bladders can be obtained by means of a pneumatic system, through which air or any other suitable gas is pumped to inflate the bladders, or by injecting polyurethane or silicone foam.
- Custom fitting pneumatic devices have been known over the years in the sports footwear industry, and in particular in the ski boots industry; for example, US 4,232,459 discloses a ski boot comprising an air chamber arranged between the shell and the inner boot connected, by means of a delivery circuit and a release circuit, to a pump incorporated in the boot.
- a drawback of this solution in which a single air chamber is provided lies in the poor efficiency in holding the wearer's foot firm during sports activity: actually, when the foot is subjected to external dynamic stresses, the air contained within the chamber flows towards the lower pressure areas; thus, the reaction of the air chamber is not enough to counter the movement of the foot caused by the external stresses.
- US 6,655,050 on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, discloses a snowboard boot incorporating, between the shell and the inner boot, several air chambers separated and independent from each other and arranged in different areas of the foot; the various areas can be inflated separately by means of an external pump, available to the wearer, which can be applied in succession at the air inlet opening of each chamber; this solution allows the wearer to adjust the pressure of each air chamber independently with respect to the other and according to the contingent needs.
- a first drawback lies in the fact that the pump can be easily lost by the user given that it is separate from the footwear; furthermore, the pump can be a hindrance to the sports activity if kept in the pocket after use.
- the aim of the present invention is to overcome the previously outlined drawbacks of the prior art, by providing a sports footwear having a custom fitting device capable of efficiently holding the foot firm in the footwear during sports activity.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a sports footwear having a custom fitting device that is easy to obtain and economically advantageous.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a custom fitting device that can be positioned and mounted within the footwear in an extremely simple, quick and easy manner.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a sports footwear having a custom fitting device that can be used by the wearer in an easy and practical manner.
- an object is to provide a sports footwear having a custom fitting device obtainable at competitive costs and by using known equipments, machinery and tools.
- a sports footwear such as, for example, a ski boot, comprising a shell or upper 2 and a cuff 3 internally containing a padded lining or a removable inner boot (not illustrated) is indicated with reference number 1.
- a custom fitting device which allows customising the fitting to the particular anatomy of the wearer's foot or to specific technical-sports requirements thereof, is interposed between the shell or upper 2 and the lining or inner boot.
- the custom fitting device 4 comprises a plurality of expandable bladders 5, 6 independent with respect to each other and arranged within the footwear 1 at different regions of the wearer's foot.
- the custom fitting device 4 comprises at least one first expandable bladder 5 arranged approximately at the upper and lateral region of the forefoot and at least one second expandable bladder 6, independent from the first bladder 5, arranged around the malleolar region.
- the custom fitting device 4 will be obtained according to a substantially symmetric configuration, and thus the first bladder 5 can at least partly wrap both sides of the forefoot and the second bladder 6 can at least partly surround both sides of the malleolar regions.
- An actuation unit can be associated to the sports footwear 1, and possibly selectively release a fluid into the plurality of bladders 5, 6 with the aim of selectively expanding, and possibly contracting, the bladders; the actuation unit 7 is in fluid communication with the bladders 5, 6 through suitable connection means.
- the actuation unit 7 comprises a first pump 8 and a second pump 9 respectively in communication with the first bladder 5 and with the second bladder 6 to convey air or any other suitable gas into the bladders;
- the connection means comprise a first tube 10 and a second tube 11, separate and independent from the first tube 10, which connect the first bladder 5 in fluid communication with the first pump 8 and, respectively, the second bladder 6 with the second pump 9 through suitable generally known check-valves.
- the actuation unit further comprises a first release control 12 and a second release control 13 in fluid communication with the first bladder 5 and, respectively, with the second bladder 6 through the respective first tube 10 and second tube 11.
- the first release control 12 and the second release control 13 actuate the controlled release of air, or any other gas, from the bladders 5, 6 for the contraction of the bladders.
- the actuation unit 7 is connected at the outer rear wall of the cuff 3 adjacent to the upper edge of the cuff 3 so as to allow the user a simple and easy access.
- a peculiar characteristic of the present invention lies in the fact that the plurality of bladders 5, 6 and the relative tubes 10, 11 are integrally formed on a support element 14 made in one piece at least partly wrapping the wearer's foot.
- the support element 14 is obtained by superimposing two material sheets preferably thermoweldable, for example polyurethane, which are joined to each other along predefined lines or areas; in particular, upon defining the design and arrangement of the bladders 5, 6 and the tubes 10, 11 on the support element 14, the sheets are joined, preferably by means of thermowelding, at least at the peripheral areas of the bladders 5, 6 and the tubes 10, 11 and, preferably, also at the peripheral areas of the sheets so as to obtain a sufficiently compact assembly.
- thermoweldable for example polyurethane
- Figure 5 illustrates the assembly of the custom fitting device 4 thus obtained, in which the support element 14 incorporates the first bladder 5, the second bladder 6, the first tube 10 and the second tube 11 therein; lastly, the latter are connected, passing through the cuff 3, to the actuation unit 7 arranged outside the cuff 3.
- the areas indicated with A, B, C, D and E of the support element 14 are joined, preferably welded, to each other, and one or more of such areas can advantageously have an anti-skid knurled surface finishing so as to limit the movements of the custom fitting device 4 within the footwear 1, when the foot is fitted.
- the bladders 5, 6 can be designed to be advantageously provided with further weldings within the bladders so as to obtain a three-dimensional distribution of the air or of the gas or a differentiation of the expansion, and thus of the thickness, of the bladders.
- the flat support element 14 thus obtained is joined, for example by stitching or welding, at the edges indicated with F and G in figure 5 so as to allow shaping to wrap, at least partly, the wearer's foot and thus acquire the volume of the footwear into which it is subsequently fitted and constrained; the support element 14 is preferably fastened onto the lateral inner walls of the shell or upper 2 at the lateral holes 15, 16 of the support element 14.
- the support element 14 can be advantageously associated - at the edges indicated with H and J - for example by means of stitching or welding, to a base 17 also to allow fastening to the bottom, i.e. on the inner surface of the sole or insole, of the shell or upper 2, both to further reduce any movement of the support element during sports activity and to avoid interference when removing a possible removable inner boot.
- the footwear having a custom fitting device operates as follows: upon fitting and closing the foot in the footwear 1, the wearer may adjust and customise the fitting, i.e. the inner volume of the footwear, to the foot thereof independently on the first and/or on the second bladder 5, 6 by actuating the first and/or, respectively, the second pump 8, 9, as schematically illustrated in figures 1 and 3 ; by so doing, the wearer can inflate the first and/or the second bladder 5, 6, up to the desired degree of expansion, so that the foot is suitably held firm in the footwear 1.
- the fitting i.e. the inner volume of the footwear
- the wearer should simply operate on the first and/or on the second release control 13, 14 so as to cause partial or total release from the respective bladders, as schematically illustrated in figures 2 and 4 , in order to reduce the pressure of one or the other bladder in a controlled manner, or to completely deflate the bladders to remove the foot from the footwear 1.
- the description above shows how the present invention reaches the preset objects and advantages: actually, a sports footwear 1 having a custom fitting device 4 capable of efficiently and selectively holding, according to the different areas, the foot firm within the footwear during sports activity has been provided.
- a sports footwear 1 having a custom fitting device 4 capable of efficiently and selectively holding, according to the different areas, the foot firm within the footwear during sports activity has been provided.
- the independence between the different bladders prevents the air (or the gas) from flowing into the lower pressure areas, hence guaranteeing the ideal stability of the firm holding.
- the positioning of the foot within the footwear 1 can also be customised by making the lateral portions of the first bladder 5 and/or of the second bladder 6 independent from each other; thus, the foot can be pushed against the inner wall or the outer wall of the shell or upper 2 to facilitate a wearer's determined posture, for example the skier's posture with respect to the ski.
- the custom fitting device is extremely simple from a construction point of view, and thus economically advantageous, due to the method of construction thereof, by integrally forming the bladders 5, 6 and tubes 10, 11 on the support element 14, obtained in a single piece by superimposing and joining the second predetermined lines or areas of two superimposed material sheets having characteristics that allow thermowelding or analogous processes.
- Another advantage of the present invention lies in the quick and easy positioning and mounting of the custom fitting device 4 within the footwear 1; actually, upon providing the support element 14 and joining at the edges F and G to confer it the volume shape suitable to be inserted into the footwear 1, and possibly joined to the base 17, fastening to the footwear 1 is extremely simple, quick and immediate given that constraining the support element 14 to the inner walls of the footwear 1 and, possibly, also to the bottom thereof, is sufficient.
- a further considerable advantage of the present invention lies in the practical and easy use of the custom fitting device 4 by the wearer, both due to the integration of the actuation unit 7 on the footwear 1, which prevents possible loss of the components required for operation thereof and the positioning thereof on the footwear, capable of allowing the user to comfortably operate on the actuation unit 7.
- the bladders 5, 6 can be filled independently with an expandable material, such as, for example, a polyurethane or silicone foam, which can be injected through the actuation unit 7 which in this case will simply comprise a pair of nozzles provided with a valve.
- an expandable material such as, for example, a polyurethane or silicone foam
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention refers to a sports footwear, such as, for example, a ski or snowboard boot, an ice or roller skate, a mountaineering shoe or a motorcycle boot, having a custom fitting device comprising a plurality of expandable bladders arranged within the footwear. The expansion of the bladders can be obtained by means of a pneumatic system, through which air or any other suitable gas is pumped to inflate the bladders, or by injecting polyurethane or silicone foam.
- Custom fitting pneumatic devices have been known over the years in the sports footwear industry, and in particular in the ski boots industry; for example,
US 4,232,459 discloses a ski boot comprising an air chamber arranged between the shell and the inner boot connected, by means of a delivery circuit and a release circuit, to a pump incorporated in the boot. - A drawback of this solution in which a single air chamber is provided lies in the poor efficiency in holding the wearer's foot firm during sports activity: actually, when the foot is subjected to external dynamic stresses, the air contained within the chamber flows towards the lower pressure areas; thus, the reaction of the air chamber is not enough to counter the movement of the foot caused by the external stresses.
-
US 6,655,050 , on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, discloses a snowboard boot incorporating, between the shell and the inner boot, several air chambers separated and independent from each other and arranged in different areas of the foot; the various areas can be inflated separately by means of an external pump, available to the wearer, which can be applied in succession at the air inlet opening of each chamber; this solution allows the wearer to adjust the pressure of each air chamber independently with respect to the other and according to the contingent needs. - However, such known solution reveals some drawbacks: a first drawback lies in the fact that the pump can be easily lost by the user given that it is separate from the footwear; furthermore, the pump can be a hindrance to the sports activity if kept in the pocket after use.
- Another drawback lies in the difficulty related to positioning and mounting each air chamber within the shoe: actually, each air chamber should be constrained to the shell to prevent removal thereof when removing the inner boot.
- In the end, prior art solutions are either inefficient or unpractical, and thus scarcely applicable, or they are complex in terms of construction, and hence disadvantageous from an economical point of view.
- The aim of the present invention is to overcome the previously outlined drawbacks of the prior art, by providing a sports footwear having a custom fitting device capable of efficiently holding the foot firm in the footwear during sports activity.
- Within the previously described aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a sports footwear having a custom fitting device that is easy to obtain and economically advantageous.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a custom fitting device that can be positioned and mounted within the footwear in an extremely simple, quick and easy manner.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a sports footwear having a custom fitting device that can be used by the wearer in an easy and practical manner.
- Last but not least, an object is to provide a sports footwear having a custom fitting device obtainable at competitive costs and by using known equipments, machinery and tools.
- The aim, objects and advantages indicated above as well as others that will be more apparent hereinafter, are reached by a sports footwear having a custom fitting device as defined in claim 1.
- Further characteristics of the invention will be illustrated further in the description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the attached claims, wherein:
-
figures 1 and 2 show, according to a partly cross-sectional perspective view, a sports footwear having a custom fitting device according to the present invention respectively during the steps of expansion and contraction of a first expandable bladder; -
figures 3 and 4 show, according to a partly cross-sectional perspective view, the footwear illustrated in the previous figures respectively during the steps of expansion and contraction of a second expandable bladder; -
figure 5 represents a plan development of the custom fitting device according to the previous figures. - With reference to the previously mentioned figures, a sports footwear, such as, for example, a ski boot, comprising a shell or upper 2 and a
cuff 3 internally containing a padded lining or a removable inner boot (not illustrated) is indicated with reference number 1. - A custom fitting device, generally indicated with
reference number 4, which allows customising the fitting to the particular anatomy of the wearer's foot or to specific technical-sports requirements thereof, is interposed between the shell or upper 2 and the lining or inner boot. - The
custom fitting device 4 comprises a plurality of expandable bladders 5, 6 independent with respect to each other and arranged within the footwear 1 at different regions of the wearer's foot. - With reference to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in the attached figures, the
custom fitting device 4 comprises at least one first expandable bladder 5 arranged approximately at the upper and lateral region of the forefoot and at least one second expandable bladder 6, independent from the first bladder 5, arranged around the malleolar region. - Preferably, the
custom fitting device 4 will be obtained according to a substantially symmetric configuration, and thus the first bladder 5 can at least partly wrap both sides of the forefoot and the second bladder 6 can at least partly surround both sides of the malleolar regions. - An actuation unit, generally indicated with
reference number 7, can be associated to the sports footwear 1, and possibly selectively release a fluid into the plurality of bladders 5, 6 with the aim of selectively expanding, and possibly contracting, the bladders; theactuation unit 7 is in fluid communication with the bladders 5, 6 through suitable connection means. - In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, in which the
custom fitting device 4 is constituted by a pneumatic system for inflating the bladders, theactuation unit 7 comprises afirst pump 8 and asecond pump 9 respectively in communication with the first bladder 5 and with the second bladder 6 to convey air or any other suitable gas into the bladders; the connection means comprise afirst tube 10 and a second tube 11, separate and independent from thefirst tube 10, which connect the first bladder 5 in fluid communication with thefirst pump 8 and, respectively, the second bladder 6 with thesecond pump 9 through suitable generally known check-valves. - The actuation unit further comprises a
first release control 12 and asecond release control 13 in fluid communication with the first bladder 5 and, respectively, with the second bladder 6 through the respectivefirst tube 10 and second tube 11. Thefirst release control 12 and thesecond release control 13 actuate the controlled release of air, or any other gas, from the bladders 5, 6 for the contraction of the bladders. - Advantageously, the
actuation unit 7 is connected at the outer rear wall of thecuff 3 adjacent to the upper edge of thecuff 3 so as to allow the user a simple and easy access. - A peculiar characteristic of the present invention lies in the fact that the plurality of bladders 5, 6 and the
relative tubes 10, 11 are integrally formed on asupport element 14 made in one piece at least partly wrapping the wearer's foot. - The
support element 14 is obtained by superimposing two material sheets preferably thermoweldable, for example polyurethane, which are joined to each other along predefined lines or areas; in particular, upon defining the design and arrangement of the bladders 5, 6 and thetubes 10, 11 on thesupport element 14, the sheets are joined, preferably by means of thermowelding, at least at the peripheral areas of the bladders 5, 6 and thetubes 10, 11 and, preferably, also at the peripheral areas of the sheets so as to obtain a sufficiently compact assembly.Figure 5 illustrates the assembly of the customfitting device 4 thus obtained, in which thesupport element 14 incorporates the first bladder 5, the second bladder 6, thefirst tube 10 and the second tube 11 therein; lastly, the latter are connected, passing through thecuff 3, to theactuation unit 7 arranged outside thecuff 3. - The areas indicated with A, B, C, D and E of the
support element 14 are joined, preferably welded, to each other, and one or more of such areas can advantageously have an anti-skid knurled surface finishing so as to limit the movements of the customfitting device 4 within the footwear 1, when the foot is fitted. - Furthermore, the bladders 5, 6 can be designed to be advantageously provided with further weldings within the bladders so as to obtain a three-dimensional distribution of the air or of the gas or a differentiation of the expansion, and thus of the thickness, of the bladders.
- The
flat support element 14 thus obtained is joined, for example by stitching or welding, at the edges indicated with F and G infigure 5 so as to allow shaping to wrap, at least partly, the wearer's foot and thus acquire the volume of the footwear into which it is subsequently fitted and constrained; thesupport element 14 is preferably fastened onto the lateral inner walls of the shell or upper 2 at the lateral holes 15, 16 of thesupport element 14. - Furthermore, the
support element 14 can be advantageously associated - at the edges indicated with H and J - for example by means of stitching or welding, to a base 17 also to allow fastening to the bottom, i.e. on the inner surface of the sole or insole, of the shell or upper 2, both to further reduce any movement of the support element during sports activity and to avoid interference when removing a possible removable inner boot. - The footwear having a custom fitting device according to the present invention operates as follows: upon fitting and closing the foot in the footwear 1, the wearer may adjust and customise the fitting, i.e. the inner volume of the footwear, to the foot thereof independently on the first and/or on the second bladder 5, 6 by actuating the first and/or, respectively, the
second pump figures 1 and3 ; by so doing, the wearer can inflate the first and/or the second bladder 5, 6, up to the desired degree of expansion, so that the foot is suitably held firm in the footwear 1. - The wearer should simply operate on the first and/or on the
second release control figures 2 and4 , in order to reduce the pressure of one or the other bladder in a controlled manner, or to completely deflate the bladders to remove the foot from the footwear 1. - Thus, the description above shows how the present invention reaches the preset objects and advantages: actually, a sports footwear 1 having a custom
fitting device 4 capable of efficiently and selectively holding, according to the different areas, the foot firm within the footwear during sports activity has been provided. In particular it is shown how the independence between the different bladders prevents the air (or the gas) from flowing into the lower pressure areas, hence guaranteeing the ideal stability of the firm holding. - The positioning of the foot within the footwear 1 can also be customised by making the lateral portions of the first bladder 5 and/or of the second bladder 6 independent from each other; thus, the foot can be pushed against the inner wall or the outer wall of the shell or upper 2 to facilitate a wearer's determined posture, for example the skier's posture with respect to the ski.
- Furthermore, the custom fitting device is extremely simple from a construction point of view, and thus economically advantageous, due to the method of construction thereof, by integrally forming the bladders 5, 6 and
tubes 10, 11 on thesupport element 14, obtained in a single piece by superimposing and joining the second predetermined lines or areas of two superimposed material sheets having characteristics that allow thermowelding or analogous processes. - Another advantage of the present invention lies in the quick and easy positioning and mounting of the custom
fitting device 4 within the footwear 1; actually, upon providing thesupport element 14 and joining at the edges F and G to confer it the volume shape suitable to be inserted into the footwear 1, and possibly joined to thebase 17, fastening to the footwear 1 is extremely simple, quick and immediate given that constraining thesupport element 14 to the inner walls of the footwear 1 and, possibly, also to the bottom thereof, is sufficient. - A further considerable advantage of the present invention lies in the practical and easy use of the custom
fitting device 4 by the wearer, both due to the integration of theactuation unit 7 on the footwear 1, which prevents possible loss of the components required for operation thereof and the positioning thereof on the footwear, capable of allowing the user to comfortably operate on theactuation unit 7. - Obviously, the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications or variants without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention as defined in claim 1.
- For example the bladders 5, 6 can be filled independently with an expandable material, such as, for example, a polyurethane or silicone foam, which can be injected through the
actuation unit 7 which in this case will simply comprise a pair of nozzles provided with a valve. - Lastly, the materials used to carry out the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the single components, may suitably vary according to the specific needs.
Claims (15)
- Sports footwear having a custom fitting device (4) comprising a plurality of expandable bladders (5, 6) arranged within said footwear (1) at a respective plurality of regions of the wearer's foot, an actuation unit (7) for actuating the selective expansion of said plurality of bladders (5,6) being associable to said footwear (1), characterized in that said actuation unit (7) is in fluid communication with said plurality of bladders (5, 6) by means of suitable connection means (10, 11), said plurality of bladders (5, 6) and said connection means (10, 11) being integrally formed on a support element (14) made in one piece at least partly wrapping the wearer's foot and fastened to said footwear (1).
- Sports footwear according to claim 1, wherein said support element (14) is formed by at least two material sheets superimposed and joined to each other at least at the peripheral areas of said plurality of bladders (5, 6) and said connection means (10, 11).
- Sports footwear according to claim 2, wherein said at least two sheets are also joined to each other at the peripheral areas of said support element (14).
- Sports footwear according to claims 2 or 3, wherein said at least two sheets are joined to each other at one or more internal areas of one or more bladders of said plurality of bladders (5, 6).
- Sports footwear according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said support element (14), obtained flat and in which said plurality of bladders (5, 6) and said connection means (10, 11) are formed, is joined at at least two peripheral edges (F, G) to be shaped so as to at least partly wrap the wearer's foot.
- Sports footwear according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a shell or upper (2) and a cuff (3) and internally having a padded lining or a removable inner boot, said custom fitting device (4) being interposed between said shell or upper (2) and said padded lining or removable inner boot.
- Sports footwear according to claim 6, wherein said support element (14) can be constrained to the lateral inner walls of said shell or upper (2).
- Sports footwear according to claims 6 or 7, wherein said support element (14) can be constrained to the inner surface of the sole or of the insole of said shell or upper (2).
- Sports footwear according to claim 8, wherein said support element (14) can be constrained to the inner surface of said sole or said insole by means of a base (17) to which said support element (14) can be associated.
- Sports footwear according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said custom fitting device (4) comprises at least one first expandable bladder (5) arranged approximately at an upper and lateral region of the forefoot and at least one second expandable bladder (6), independent from said first bladder (5), arranged around a malleolar region.
- Sports footwear according to claim 10, wherein said custom fitting device (4) is provided according to a substantially symmetric configuration, said first bladder (5) at least partly wrapping both sides of the forefoot and said second bladder (6) at least partly surrounding both sides of the malleolar regions.
- Sports footwear according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said connection means comprise a first tube (10) and a second tube (11) separate and independent from said first tube (10), said actuation unit (7) comprises a first pump (8) and a second pump (9) in fluid communication respectively with said first bladder (5) and with said second bladder (6), said first tube (10) connecting said first bladder (5) in fluid communication with said first pump (8) and said second tube (11) connecting said second bladder (6) in fluid communication with said second pump (9).
- Sports footwear according to claim 12, wherein said actuation unit (7) further comprises a first release control (12) and a second release control (13) in fluid communication with said first bladder (5) and, respectively, with said second bladder (6) through said first tube (10) and, respectively, second tube (11), said first release control (12) and second release control (13) being adapted to actuate the controlled release of fluid from said first bladder (5) and second bladder (6).
- Sports footwear according to claim 1, wherein said custom fitting device (4) comprises a system for filling said plurality of bladders (5, 6) by injecting an expandable material through said actuation unit (7) and along said connection means (10, 11), said actuation unit comprising a pair of nozzles provided with a valve.
- Sports footwear according to claim 1, wherein said sports footwear is an alpine ski boot or a touring ski boot or a snowboarding boot or an ice skate or a roller skate.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000003U ITPN20100003U1 (en) | 2010-02-05 | 2010-02-05 | "SPORTS FOOTWEAR PROVIDED WITH A FIT SIZE DEVICE" |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2353420A1 true EP2353420A1 (en) | 2011-08-10 |
EP2353420B1 EP2353420B1 (en) | 2017-10-25 |
Family
ID=43733758
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP11152276.9A Active EP2353420B1 (en) | 2010-02-05 | 2011-01-26 | Ski or snowboarding boot having a custom fitting device |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20110192052A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2353420B1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITPN20100003U1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11206896B2 (en) | 2017-02-27 | 2021-12-28 | Nike, Inc. | Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR20130001470A (en) * | 2011-06-27 | 2013-01-04 | (주)보스코프레이션 | Snowboard shoes |
US9687045B2 (en) * | 2015-02-27 | 2017-06-27 | Reebok International Limited | Article of footwear having an upper with inflation system |
US10499707B2 (en) | 2017-10-18 | 2019-12-10 | Reebok International Limited | Articles of footwear having a leno woven upper with a bladder component |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US3765409A (en) * | 1971-11-17 | 1973-10-16 | D Merkle | Orthopedic drop foot boot |
DE3600437A1 (en) * | 1986-01-09 | 1987-07-16 | Josef Lederer | SKI SHOE KEYWORD: DOUBLE PUMP |
US5158767A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1992-10-27 | Reebok International Ltd. | Athletic shoe having inflatable bladder |
US4724627A (en) * | 1986-12-03 | 1988-02-16 | Sff, Inc. | Sports boot for skiers and the like |
US5692321A (en) * | 1995-12-12 | 1997-12-02 | Holstine; Michael P. | Athletic boot |
WO1998054996A1 (en) * | 1997-06-03 | 1998-12-10 | Doyle Harold S | Pneumatic inflating device |
US6189172B1 (en) * | 2000-01-14 | 2001-02-20 | Dc Shoes, Inc. | Removable liner and inflatable bladder for snowboard boots and method of manufacture |
US20020194747A1 (en) * | 2001-06-21 | 2002-12-26 | Passke Joel L. | Footwear with bladder filter |
US7278445B2 (en) * | 2002-07-02 | 2007-10-09 | Reebok International Ltd. | Shoe having an inflatable bladder |
US6785985B2 (en) * | 2002-07-02 | 2004-09-07 | Reebok International Ltd. | Shoe having an inflatable bladder |
US20040049950A1 (en) * | 2002-09-13 | 2004-03-18 | Mr. Scott Van Horne | High performance custom moldable footwear |
US7478488B1 (en) * | 2005-10-31 | 2009-01-20 | Reebok International Ltd. | Inflatable and ventilating upper for an article of footwear |
-
2010
- 2010-02-05 IT IT000003U patent/ITPN20100003U1/en unknown
-
2011
- 2011-01-26 EP EP11152276.9A patent/EP2353420B1/en active Active
- 2011-02-04 US US13/021,114 patent/US20110192052A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US4232459A (en) | 1977-11-02 | 1980-11-11 | Franco Vaccari | Ski boots |
FR2542983A1 (en) * | 1983-03-24 | 1984-09-28 | Josef Lederer | Bubble pump valve unit for ski boots |
US5113599A (en) * | 1989-02-08 | 1992-05-19 | Reebok International Ltd. | Athletic shoe having inflatable bladder |
US5253435A (en) * | 1989-03-17 | 1993-10-19 | Nike, Inc. | Pressure-adjustable shoe bladder assembly |
US6655050B1 (en) | 2000-03-03 | 2003-12-02 | Joseph B. Lowe | Snowboard boot with inflatable bladders |
US6409486B1 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2002-06-25 | Dc Shoes, Inc. | Shoe with inflatable bladder and secure deflation valve |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US11206896B2 (en) | 2017-02-27 | 2021-12-28 | Nike, Inc. | Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers |
US11234485B2 (en) | 2017-02-27 | 2022-02-01 | Nike, Inc. | Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers |
US11969053B2 (en) | 2017-02-27 | 2024-04-30 | Nike, Inc. | Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers |
US11986053B2 (en) | 2017-02-27 | 2024-05-21 | Nike, Inc. | Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2353420B1 (en) | 2017-10-25 |
US20110192052A1 (en) | 2011-08-11 |
ITPN20100003U1 (en) | 2011-08-06 |
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